John Visconti III, 48, killed, on other person injured, taken to hospital, after a tractor-trailer rear-ends a SUV, traveling below the speed limit, then overturns and catches fire, on the New Jersey Turnpike near Linden.

A Rosenhayn man was pronounced dead at the scene of an early morning accident Sunday involving a tractor-trailer and a van on the N.J. Turnpike, a state trooper said. The accident in the northbound outer truck lane occurred near mile marker 96 at 1:40 a.m., he said. An investigation is continuing.

John Visconti III, 48, was driving a 1997 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, when it struck a 2001 GMC Safari van that was driving below the speed limit in the right lane, police said.

“The GMC had broken down prior to this,” he said. “It was then driving below the speed limit. The tractor-trailer came over a crest quickly and didn’t see the vehicle.”

Polite said Visconti attempted “evasive maneuvers” to avoid hitting the van, but was unable to avoid a collision. He struck the van in the left rear, then lost control, striking the guard rail and overturning, police said.

“Then, the tractor-trailer caught fire,” Polite said. “After it hit the guard rail, debris from the incident struck a 2012 BMW SUV traveling in the car lane.”

The driver of the GMC van, who was not identified, was taken to Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, while the driver of the BMW, who was not identified, did not need medical attention, police said.

All the northbound lanes were closed for about 45 minutes while the fire was being put out, he said. After that, there were sporadic lane closures for cleanup and investigation purposes.